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Local History
Our parish history is well documented in dozens of books and hundreds of documents from various eras. One of the most compact yet detailed accounts of it was given in "Berkshire Village Book" published by the Berkshire Federation of Women's Institute:
"MILTON - midway between the villages of Drayton, Steventon and Sutton Courtenay, this old settlement can claim a thousand years of history, and its original Saxon name, Middeltune, obviously derives from its geographical position.
In A.D.956 Edwy the Fair gave fifteen hides of land (roughly 1,200 acres) to Alfwin, who later conveyed it to the Abbey of Abingdon. The chapel, built in the reign of William Rufus, was Abbey property, and the first rector was appointed in 1325 by Edward II.
The delightful church today is of later vintage and is dedicated to St. Blaise, patron of woolcombers, as is fitting in a village once the centre of the wool-growing trade, and on the route to the great sheep fair at Ilsley.
Collectors of tombstones will like the many beautifully carved examples in the little quiet churchyard — there is a handsome stone dated 1764. Milton has had a tradition of stone carving for the last 200 years, and a member of the same family can still be found at the old stonemason's shop. After the Great War, over 300 headstones were carved in this village and sent to France for the graves of the local families' war dead.
Right in the middle of this lovely place is Milton Manor, designed in the manner of Inigo Jones in a beautiful faded rose-pink brick, and placed with calm perfection in a setting of tall trees, green lawns and ornamental lake. Milton Manor is opened to the public at stated times.
In 1546 the Calton family was in possession, but it was sold in 1768 to John Bryant Barrett, ancestor of the present owner.
At the gates of the manor the village public house displays its sign - "The Admiral Benbow". This famous sailor has a link with Milton House - his daughter married one of the Calton family. When Peter the Great, Czar of Russia, visited England on his famous fact-finding voyage, he stayed at Milton House, undoubtedly through his passionate interest in ships, dockyards and the sea, and the Admiral was a great source of information. The Admiral's sword is still at Milton House, and his portrait hangs in the village pub.
Another royal visitor was William of Orange in 1688. After his landing at Brixham the great little Dutchman marched his army north through Newbury and spent a night at Milton House while his 20,000 men were quartered in Abingdon.
On the outskirts of this attractive village Milton Depot was established by the Army and flourished for many years. The site has now been sold to a company for warehousing, and 120 people from the surrounding district are employed there.
Milton North Field has yielded up some archaeological treasures ... there are traces of a Saxon burial ground, and in 1832 a very fine Saxon Fibula, worked in gold and jewelled with garnets, was dug up. It can now be seen in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
The old church school in the village bears this inscription: "A.D.1796. This school was erected and endowed by J. O. Warner, Rector of this Parish, for educating poor children and bringing them up to fear the Lord".
There is a beautiful walk from Milton to Steventon beside the Ginge Brook and leading to the Causeway. By road to Milton Hill the way is garlanded with cherry orchards, with apples and pears and soft fruit in two large fruit farms, and at any time of year Milton is a pleasant place to visit."
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